Stuart Hall jailed for 15 months

Veteran British broadcaster Stuart Hall has been jailed for 15 months for a string of sex attacks on children as young as nine. The 83 year old BBC sports presenter, who also fronted game show It’s a Knockout, has admitted inappropriately kissing and groping 13 girls aged between nine and 17 years old in a series of offences dating back to 1967.
Most of the victims were daughters of Hall’s friends and acquaintances. One was assaulted after appearing as a cheerleader on It’s a Knockout, and another was abused in his dressing room at the BBC.
Hall was sentenced to 15 months at a court in Preston, England on Monday (17Jun13) after previously pleading guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault.
Judge Anthony Russell, QC told Hall his offences were worsened as there was “a degree of planning and premeditation” to the attacks, and slammed the former presenter’s previous insistence that his victims were lying.
The judge said, “Your brazen attitude when charged will add to the victims’ distress… It is very sad to see someone so well regarded in this court. Those who had admired you know there is a darker side to you now.”
Following the sentencing, a BBC spokesman said, “The BBC is appalled that some of Stuart Hall’s crimes took place in connection with his work at the BBC and offer an unreserved apology to the people he abused.”